Expandable mandrel for use on winding machines



Dec. 20, 1955 v. 5. VAN COLLE ET AL 2,727,700

EXPANDABLE MANDREL FOR USE ON WINDING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1955 f I Q} w I ll H /2 77 76 2/ y c -22 L g I 22 p I, L-22 74 8 /5 /3 20 FIG.

Vicf'or- Qwm Cone -+Th ornas Fishwi ck In v-cn f'ar's United States Patent'O EXPANDABLE MANDREL FOR USE ON WINDING MACHINES Victor George Van Colle, Hale, and Thomas Fishwick, Macclesfield, England This invention concerns expandable mandrels, and particularly, but not exclusively, such mandrels for use on uptwisting machines.

It has been found, in uptwisting and like machines, when winding nylon and similar yarns onto a cardboard tube or the like supported on a mandrel that the wound yarn exerts an excessive pressure on the cardboard tube which is subsequently required to be removed from its mandrel. This pressure renders removal either impossible, or impracticable without damaging the yarn.

The object of the present invention is to provide an expandable mandrel, for carrying a cardboard tube or the like onto which the yarn is to be wound, which provides adequate support for the tube when in its expanded condition and which can be quickly and conveniently collapsed so as to render the tube carrying the yarn easily removable.

According to the present invention an expandable mandrel for the purpose referred to comprises a cylindrical body having a central longitudinal bore, a shaft slidably located in said bore, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body in such manner as to be allowed a limited radial movement, and each having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through apertures in said body, the ends of said pins resting in annular grooves in said shaft in one axial position of the latter to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by means, such as screw means, into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on said shaft to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

The invention will be described further by way of example with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a mandrel constructed according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view corresponding to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view in plan of part of the mandrel shown in Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional elevation showing an alternative form of construction.

Figure 5 is a broken perspective view of one end of a further alternative construction.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one end of the construction of Fig. 4.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 one embodiment of the invention comprises, basically, a cylindrical body 11 of hard wood, a metal shaft 12 slidably located in a longitudinal bore in the body 11 and plurality of sheet metal, arcuate segments 13, retainable in concentric disposition around the body 11.

One end of the hard wood body 11 is provided with a metal cap 14 having an axial screwed bore, and the metal shaft 12 has a correspondingly screwed end 15 for engagement therewith. This screwed end 15 has preferably a two start thread for speedy action. The body is also provided with three sets of apertures equi-angularly spaced there-around. Each set of apertures comprises three axially aligned counterbored radial key-hole 2,727,700 Patented Dec. 20, 1955 2 slots 16, one adjacent either end of the body and one substantially central thereof. Each of the arcuate segments 13 (which are correspondingly three in number) has three headed pins 17 extending radially therefrom and of such size that they may engage simultaneously in the key-hole slots 16 of the one set.

The metal shaft 12 has three reduced diameter portions 18 spaced at distances corresponding to the spacing of the apertures 16 of one set. These reduced diameter portions 18 have, at each end, where the diameter of the shaft increases to the normal, inclined surfaces. A further reduced diameter portion 19 is provided on the shaft 12 at the opposite end to the screwed end and also at this end is provided a knurled handwheel 20. This further reduced diameter portion 19 is provided so that the axial movement of the shaft 12 in both directions may be limited by a grub screw 21 extending through the wall of the body 11 into the annular space defined by the reduced diameter portion 19. The limits of axial movement of the shaft 12 are so arranged that at maximum withdrawal of the shaft 12 the pins 17 of the arcuate segments 13 are resting on, or in the annular space defined by the reduced diameter portions 18 of the shaft. When the shaft 12 is screwed inwardly by means of the annular handwheel 20 and before its movement is limited by abutment against the wood bodyit is arranged that the inclined surfaces of the reduced diameter portions 18 will abut the heads of the pins 17, which are preferably rounded and will by wedging action move the three segments radially simultaneously so that the mandrel is expanded.

I A pair of diametrically oppositely disposed blind holes 22 may be provided in both the face of the metal end cap 14 of the body 11 and the face of the knurled hand- Wheel 20, the purpose of which will be described later.

In use, the parts are normally in the expanded position shown in Fig. 1. The paper tube is easily slipped onto the mandrel which is only expandable to a fixed size.

The head of the knurled handwheel 20 acts as a stop to locate the end of the tube and for that purpose is slightly larger in diameter than the'expanded diameter of the mandrel. The mandrel is then placed in the twisting machine and the yarn is wound onto the cardboard tube in the usual manner. When it is desired to remove the cardboard tube after winding, the knurled handwheel 20 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction, the segments 13 collapse, and the wound package can easily be removed. For exerting radial pressure during expansion of the mandrel or for unscrewing the shaft 12 when it is desired to collapse the mandrel the blind holes 22 may be conveniently utilised. For instance a pair of fixed pegs. may be adapted to fit the blind holes of the metal end cap 14 of the body 11 whilst the knurled handwheel 20 is turned by means of a suitable key having pegs to fit. the blind holes therein.

The method of retaining the arcuate segments 13 in position by means of the headed pins 17 in counter bored key hole slots may be varied. For instance (see Fig. 4) instead of the slots, plain circular holes 23 may be used in which plain cylindrical segment pins 24 may be located. Each end of each arcuate segment ma then be provided with an inwardly directed extension 25 at right angles to said segment, said extension having a radial slot therein, said extension being located in a recess in the respective end faces of the body 11 to be secured by means of a pin 26. It is obvious that this method will positively locate each segment longitudinally of the body whilst allowing, by virtue of the slot in the extension, limited radial movement.

In Fig. 5, yet a further method attaching the arcuate sectors is shown. In this instance, the arcuate segments 30 are grooved at one end as indicated by the reference numeral 31. A flexible circular metal clip 32 sits in the groove 31 and thereby holds the segments in position around the body 11.

It has been found sufficient to provide for a radial movement of K for each segment 13.

The chief advantage of a mandrel construction according to the present invention is that each segment is supported at intervals over the Whole of its length by providing a minimum of three pins placed as described and in this way collapsing of the mandrel due to the pressure of the wound yarn at the centre thereof is prevented. A mandrel according to the invention is easy to operate. Its parts can be easily replaced, and do not fall apart when the mandrel is not in use.

We claim:

1. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, one end of said cylindrical body having an internal screw thread, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and slidably located in said bore, said shaft having at one end a complementary screw thread in threaded engagement with said internal screw thread on said cylindrical body, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body by slotted extensions of said segments which extend at right angles thereto and engage pins on said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

2. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, one end of said cylindrical body having an internal screw thread, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and slidably located in said bore, said shaft having at one end a complementary screw thread in threaded engagement with said internal screw thread on said cylindrical body, a plurality of grooved arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically by a circular metal clip to said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of re duced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

3. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, said shaft being threaded at one end and in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body for limited movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

4. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, said shaft having an external hand wheel at one end, said shaft provided at its other end with a threaded portion in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body for limited movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

5. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, said shaft being threaded at one end and in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of pins with inlarged head portions at the extremities thereof and extending through axially aligned counter-bored keyhole slots in said body, the head portions of the pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

6. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves rotatably located in said bore, and having an external hand wheel at one end, said shaft provided at its other end with a threaded portion in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel ofreduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

7. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, such shaft being threaded at one end and in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body by slotted extensions of said segments which extend at right angles thereto and engage pins on said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

8. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, and having an external hand Wheel at one end, said shaft provided at its other end with a threaded portion in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically to said body by slotted extensions of said segments which extend at right angles thereto and engage pins on said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

9. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves and rotatably located in said bore, such shaft being threaded at one end and in threaded engagement with a threaded 1' portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of grooved arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically by a circular metal clip to said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

10. An expandable mandrel comprising a cylindrical body having spaced apertures therein and a central longitudinal bore, a shaft having spaced annular grooves rotatably located in said bore, and having an external hand wheel at one end, said shaft provided at its other end with a threaded portion in threaded engagement with a threaded portion of said cylindrical body, a plurality of grooved arcuate segments attached substantially concentrically by a circular metal clip to said body for limited radial movement, each segment having a plurality of pins spaced over the length thereof and extending through said apertures, the ends of said pins resting in said annular grooves in one axial position of said shaft to provide a mandrel of reduced diameter and, on said shaft being moved by said screw means into another axial position, being forced radially outwards by inclined surfaces on the ends of said grooves to provide a mandrel of enlarged diameter.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,630,278 Herman Mar. 3, 1953 20 1,466,121 Dallas Aug. 28, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 21,989 Great Britain Dec. 1, 1892 

